Abu Sayyaf Group

Place of Origin: Philippines

Year of Origin: 1991

The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) is an Islamist extremist organization that recently pledged allegiance to Daesh and its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The group intends to establish an independent Islamic state in southern Philippines and it has started threatening people who live in Southeast Asia.

ASG is known for some of the brutal techniques used by Daesh: beheadings and foreigners´ kidnappings. It also attacks local politicians, business people and civilians. ASG also offers protection to some jihadists fugitives and is connected to other Philippines´ extremist organizations such as the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

RECRUITMENT

ASG usually recruits members from clan and family groups – it is believed that many of them are young Muslims from the southern islands of the Philippines. Some reports show evidence the group has recently began to recruit people from other countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia.

MEDIA STRATEGIES

Media content produced by ASG is fairly lower in comparison to the production of other extremist groups. The group have produced some small videos with English subtitles, targeting foreign audience.